Rueben Livingston-Wilson

Twin Valley battled Wilson in the Berks County quarterfinals on Thursday night at Muhlenberg. All of the numbers added up to this being a very competitive matchup. #4 seed Twin Valley was averaging 5.7 runs and allowing 3.1 per game. #5 seed Wilson was putting up 5.9 runs and giving up 3.4 per contest. The Raiders team ERA during the regular season was 1.62. The Bulldogs’ ERA was almost identical at 1.66. Both teams sent big right-handers to the mound. Kannon Zdimal, a junior who also plays basketball at Twin Valley, had a 1.55 ERA entering Thursday. Rueben Livingston, a 6’3 senior who’s committed to Kent State, brought a 1.40 ERA into this prime time affair. In this case, the numbers didn’t lie. The fans in Laureldale were treated to a low-scoring game that got very interesting late. Wilson advanced to the semifinals with a 3-2 victory. Livingston told me that his curveball and slider felt sharp before the game. The all-county selection from 2021 limited the (12-7) Raiders to two unearned runs and four hits over six frames. Livingston struck out nine, walked one, and earned his first win of the season. He said confidence was the key for the (9-9) Bulldogs. Six of their losses have been by two runs or less. Wilson jumped out to an early lead. Ryan Sekulski drove in Rafael Fernandez with a 2-out, RBI single to right field in the first inning. The Bulldogs added two unearned runs in the second. No. 9 hitter Trevor Bilodeau provided a 2-out, RBI double to left. Livingston emphasized that Bilodeau has been an excellent defensive shortstop. An error by freshman shortstop Kooper Zdimal made it 3-0 in the top of the second. The Raiders threatened in the fifth with men on first and second and one out. However, Livingston got a strikeout and then picked a runner off of first base. Sophomore Jonathan Oxendine hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth. He had replaced Zdimal on the hill. A rare error by Bilodeau gave Twin Valley its first run with two outs. Catcher Jaydon Goebel then stroked an RBI single to center to get the scrappy Raiders within 3-2. Oxendine tossed two hitless innings of relief. Zdimal allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked one. Matt VanOstenbridge took over for Livingston in the final inning. The sophomore lefty walked the first batter he faced. A sacrifice bunt put the tying run on second base. VanOstenbridge picked up the save by getting back-to-back strikeouts. Livingston believes that the young southpaw has a bright future. He noted that playing Twin Valley in the regular season really helped the Bulldogs prepare for this playoff game. Livingston finished 1-for-3 with a double. He has twelve extra base hits this year including three home runs. We talked about Oley Valley’s 6-1 upset of top-seeded Gov. Mifflin in the opener at Gochnauer Field. Senior Luke Macdonald threw another gem for the Lynx. He held the defending county champs to six hits. Livingston understands that you can’t overlook anyone in the postseason. Wilson will meet Oley Valley at 4:15pm on Monday at FirstEnergy Stadium. The nightcap will feature #2 seed Muhlenberg and third-seeded Exeter. The BCIAA championship game is scheduled for Wednesday at 6pm.